kids encyclopedia robot

Thomas Graham Building facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Graham Building
Thomas Graham Building in Portland.jpg
Thomas Graham Building in 2011
Locator map
Locator map
Location in Portland, Oregon
Locator map
Locator map
Location in Oregon
Locator map
Locator map
Location in the United States
Locator map
Locator map
Location in Oregon
Location 6031 SE Stark Street
Portland, Oregon
Built 1910
Architectural style Vernacular commercial
NRHP reference No. 92000134
Added to NRHP March 5, 1992

The Thomas Graham Building is a special two-story building located at 6301 Southeast Stark Street in Portland, Oregon. It was built a long time ago, in 1910, and is important enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant historical place in the Oregon area. It was added to this list in 1992.

What is the Thomas Graham Building?

This building is made of wood and sits on a strong concrete base. It even has a full basement! The first floor is used for a business, like a shop, while the second floor has an apartment where someone lives.

Unique Building Features

The building has some cool design parts. You'll see a special entrance area with a row of fluted wooden columns. These columns have cool grooves carved into them. The front door is a double-leaf door, meaning it has two parts that open. There are also big plate-glass windows, perfect for displaying things.

Who Built It?

A builder named George Foreman constructed this building. He built it for a druggist named Thomas Graham. A druggist is like a pharmacist who runs a drugstore.

A Look Back at History

The Thomas Graham Building shows us what many business buildings looked like in Portland around the year 1900. It helps us understand how neighborhoods grew back then. Because of its historical importance, the building was named a Portland Historic Landmark in 1981.

Thomas Graham and the Neighborhood

Thomas Graham, who owned the drugstore in this building for many years, was born in Ontario, Canada. He moved to Portland in 1891.

Mount Tabor's Growth

At that time, the Mount Tabor neighborhood, where the building is located, was changing. It was slowly transforming from a quiet countryside area into a place with more homes.

Local Business Hubs

Small business areas in the neighborhood often had little wooden buildings. These buildings usually had their storefronts set back a bit, facing the streetcar lines. Streetcars were like old-fashioned buses that ran on tracks. The Graham Building is one of only four such buildings that are still standing in the central southeast part of Portland today.

kids search engine
Thomas Graham Building Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.